Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-03-02

George castins Killed by Postmaster DAVID
n. Stewart,
whils He Was Attempting to Rob Store and
h. the Postofica

n. Stewart,
While He Was Attempting to Rob . Store and
the Postofice.
Another killing is to be added to the
list chargeable against Barber county.
This time the affair originated and
ended through the acts of the victim,
young man named George Castine,
aged 10 years, whose father, John Cas-
tine, lives on the George place, one
mile south of Elm Mills. The circum-
stances, as related to us by creditable
persons are as follows:
David NJ. Stewart, the postmaster at
Elm Mills, has small store in the
same building with the office. Lately
he has missed several articles from the
store, and on two occasions some one
had burglariZed the store and stolen
small sums of money from the post
office. Stewart had replaced the
amounts and kept sharp lookout for
the thief. He had communicated to
his father, a highly respected and lead
ing citizen of that place, his belief
that the thief was a regular visitor to
the store. as in each case it had been
while he, the postmaster was away at
supper.
Last Thursday evening, February
oath, Postmaster Stewart, instead of
locking up the building and going
home to supper, as was his custom.
closed the door and stationed himself
on the inside in the dark, with shot
gun loaded with No. duck shot.
Soon after dark, as he SAYS. he heard
some one rafting at one of the win
dows. Soon the party on the outside
lighted a match and then removed
pane OF glass, and reaching his hand
inside picked up cigar box contain
ing several dollars in change. AS he
was withdrawing his arm from the
window, Stewart discharged the gun
towards the window, and at once ran
out of the building to see what effect
his shot had done.
He went to the drug store, near by,
and asked If any one had been seen
running past there. At that moment
groans were heard near by and going
to the place whence the groans came,
George Castine vas discovered lying
on the ground in great agony. He was
taken into the drug store and cared for,
and later in the evening was taken TO
his home by his father and sister, who
appeared on the scene a few minutes
after the shooting, they being OH their
way to church at the time.
Young Castine suffered greatly dur
ing Friday. DIR. Pepoon, of Mingona,
was first called, and Friday night, DR..
Moore. of this city, was called in con-
sultation, He remained until Satur-
day morning at o'clock, at which time
theyictim died.
Justice Dewitt, acting as coroner,
empaneled jury Saturday and held
an inquest on the body. 1t was dis
covered that he died from the effects of
the shot fired into his body by David
M Stewart, the load taking effect in
the victims left hand, arm, side and
breast, below the heart, entering the
cavity. The jury pronounced it case
of justifiable homicide.
In the pockets of the clothes Castine
wore, when shot, was a five-dollar gold
piece of the coinage of 1885,. consider
ably worn, and described by Stewart,
before it was found.
This coin was in the cigar box with
the other change.
Though in his last hours the boy de-
ciared that he was not guilty of at
tempted robbery, the circumstances are
all against his innocence. He claimed
that he was some distance from the
Stewart stor', in the street, when
Stewart came out of the store and
shot him. But the fact that the win
dow sash and frame and the cigar box
containing the money were pierced by
shot, would dispel any doubt that
might exist on this point.
Castine was regarded as quiet and
harmless boy; though it seems that
Stewart was distrustful of him. And
it appears that when he fell, after
being shot, that watch dropped from
his pocket, which has since turned out
to be watch stolen from the trunk of
John Briscoe, Jr., who liYes near Elm
Mills. Young Castine had been at
Briscoe's few days before.
But the grave now has this unfortu-
nate victim imprisoned, and it is not
necessary TO further discuss his former
history. We understand that his pa
rents are industrious people and re-
spected in the community. They have
the sympathy of every one.
Friday, after the shooting. Stewart
came to this city with his father and
Offered 10 surrender to the authorities,
but as Castine was yet alive, he was
not detained. He is quiet and SEN
sible young man, unmarried, % years
of age and has long been in bad health.
He and his family deeply regret the
death of young Castine. The Stewards
are good citizens and are well liked by
their neighbors.
The Bond Elections.